Al Dubin News

Western Carolina University has revived the classic 42ND STREET with its original choreography by Gower Champion. You can't get better than that for a dance musical.

On Saturday November 8 at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, international jazz vocalist Lyn Stanley presented a CD release party to celebrate her new recording Potions (from the 50s). Onstage with her were sensational musicians tenor-saxophonist Terry Harrington, pianist Mike Lang, bassist Mike Valerio and drummer Joe La Barbera. The 80-minute set was an evening to remember, a jazz lover's dream come true.

Having written extensively about skyrocketing-to-stardom singer Carole J. Bufford over the past three years (a January/February cover story for Cabaret Scenes Magazine, and rave reviews of her past three major show runs (here, here, and here), I felt as if I had exhausted my entire repertoire of descriptive metaphors and superlatives in assessing her stirring cabaret performances. Even though she's still but a babe in cabaret years, and has a long, successful career ahead of her, I wasn't planning to review any more of her shows because, well, there didn't seem to be anything more to say. But, dammit, every time I try to get out, Carole J. Bufford pulls me back in.

In celebration of this season's ON THE TOWN, we've collected 10 of our favorite dance musicals. From classics like ANYTHING GOES, 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE and WEST SIDE STORY to modern marvels such as NEWSIES and STRICTLY BALLROOM, the way choreography is used to tell a story continues to evolve and inspire.

Today in 1980, 42nd Street opened at the Wintergarden Theatre, where it ran for 3486 performances. 42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 film adaptation, it focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.

Director Ryan Gibbs and choreographer Dann Dunn put the tapping feet of 42ND STREET on the Allenberry stage.

You will find it truly refreshing to attend Gateway Theatre's beautiful incarnation of the Tony winning musical 42nd Street. I know what you're thinking... 42nd Street is done frequently... and you are correct. However, the right cast and a top notch director - Broadway's Randy Skinner who had a hand in the original Broadway production as well as the 2001 Broadway revival - breathes new life into a theatre staple.

Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special focus on what many consider the final musical in the Golden Age tradition, 42nd STREET!

Grammy-winning jazz great Herb Alpert is Steppin' Out today, November 19 with a new album on Shout! Factory.

Nachdem ich schon Ende August mit der Leiterin den Jugendclub Theaters Iris Limbarth uber die Einstudierung von 42nd Street gesprochen hatte, konnte ich mir das Stuck nun endlich selbst ansehen und mir ein Bild von den jungen Wiesbadener Talenten machen. Und viel Talent haben sie ohne Zweifel!

Grammy-winning jazz great Herb Alpert is Steppin' Out on November 19 with a new album on Shout! Factory.

Local theater audiences are in for a special musical treat when Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner's Rivertown presents '42nd Street' tonight, September 13 - 28.

Local theater audiences are in for a special musical treat when Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner's Rivertown presents '42nd Street' September 13 - 28.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 25, 2013 - Sunday, August 25, 2013.

Marlene Ver Planck sings a story the way the rest of us wishes we could tell one: with polish and panache, convincing listeners that each and every lyric is her own. She has backed-up Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme and has been out front of the Beneke, Miller and Dorsey orchestras, singing those stories like no one else. A long list of recordings documents her talent, many featuring the arrangements of her gifted late husband, Billy. Seven of his takes on Cy Coleman, some Harry Warren and Marlene's favorites from Ivan Lins, Paul Williams and Ronny White make up her new CD, Ballads...mostly (Audiophile).

Today in 1980, 42nd Street opened at the Wintergarden Theatre, where it ran for 3486 performances. 42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 film adaptation, it focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.

Marlene Ver Planck sings a story the way the rest of us wishes we could tell one: with polish and panache, convincing listeners that each and every lyric is her own. She has backed-up Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme and has been out front of the Beneke, Miller and Dorsey orchestras, singing those stories like no one else. A long list of recordings documents her talent, many featuring the arrangements of her gifted late husband, Billy. Seven of his takes on Cy Coleman, some Harry Warren and Marlene's favorites from Ivan Lins, Paul Williams and Ronny White make up her new CD, Ballads...mostly (Audiophile).

Last March, the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, caused a big stir among its nearly 20,000 subscribers by revealing a blockbuster line-up for its 2013-14 Broadway Subscription Series: IN THE HEIGHTS (September 11-October 6, 2013); MISS SAIGON (October 30-November 24, 2013); 42ND STREET (January 15-February 9, 2014); and RENT (March 12-April 6, 2014).

While the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal continues to rock the Weston Playhouse (thru 7/27), and the tender new musical Loving Leo captivates audiences at the Rod & Gun Club (thru 8/4); yet another busload of talent has pulled into town and invites you to 'come and meet their dancing feet.' The feel-good Broadway favorite, 42nd Street, kicks off August with glitz and glamour on The Playhouse stage (today, 8/1 - 8/24.)